Baby Walkers: What to Look For When Buying for Your Baby or Toddler
Baby walkers can be excellent tools for parents to have in their homes. Baby walkers provide support as your baby learns how to be mobile. Using a baby walker teaches your baby the skills they need to walk upright, use their leg muscles, and move about a room. Since baby walkers literally hold your baby upright and support them during this important learning process, it is important to choose a baby walker with the best features in mind for your child’s specific needs.
What Safety Features Should I Seek When Shopping for a Baby Walker?
Features concerning the baby walker’s safety measures should be considered first. The Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania reports that an average of 21 baby walker-related injuries happen in the United States each day.
For example, a safe walker allows your baby to move freely about a room without getting caught on flooring changes (such as when flooring may shift from tile to a carpeted room) or rugs. Make sure your baby’s walker allows enough clearance on the bottom bumpers to encourage movement between all the spaces in your home. Also, consider how difficult different brands are to maneuver. Certain models are heavier than others or create more friction on certain floor types. You want your baby to enjoy using the walker; if they have too much difficulty, they will resist using it altogether and the purchase will have been a waste.
Another safety feature included on some models of baby walkers are wheel locks and seat belts. These can keep your baby more secure while they explore and move around the room. For example, wheel locks can be used to create a little extra friction. If having all four wheels unlocked creates too much movement for your baby to control, locking one or two of the wheels can help them maintain better control of the baby walker as they learn to move around easier and develop stronger leg muscles.
Consider the size of the bases found on different baby walker brands. These bases often serve as bumpers to keep your baby from getting too close to dangerous objects. Also, a wider base along the bottom of the walker prevents them from accidentally being able to smash their fingers between the walker’s edge or tray against a wall or other hard surface. A wider base is also less likely to end up trapped between two places, such as between a wall and a couch or chair.
What Are Some Other Good Features to Seek in a Baby Walker?
A good baby walker should also include a comfortable, padded seat that can be washed. Many brands of baby walkers have removable seats that can be taken out, machine washed, and then reinstalled inside the baby walker for the next use. The seats should also be wipeable and able to be spot-treated in case of small, quick messes that don’t require an entire washing to eliminate.
Some baby walkers are made very simple. They contain a seat to support your baby and an apparatus with wheels that allows them to safely wander about your home. Sometimes, they may include a flat tray so your baby can use it to have a snack or engage with toys, books, and other playthings while they work their leg muscles and practice walking skills.
However, other models of baby walkers include engaging toys built into their trays. These may include tactile toys, musical toys, or light up toys. These features also keep your baby engaged while they’re practicing their walking skills. Some parents like baby walkers with these extras included because they can work on other skills (such as color recognition and fine motor skills) while they practice walking.
What Makes baby walkers better for Parents to use and store?
Many baby walker brands are designed with ease of use for the parents in mind. For example, a baby walker that is lightweight and collapses easily is ideal for traveling. Some baby walkers are made with easily removable parts for quick cleanup and regular sanitizing. Heavy, bulky walkers that create an inconvenience for parents typically wind up in storage, never to be used. To avoid having a wasted product taking up space in your storage closet, opt for a lightweight and collapsible baby walker when deciding on a brand to buy.
Resources— The Indusparent, Parent Guide
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